I’m still in disbelief at the extraordinary events of the past 24 hours. I’d already planned on doing a tribute to master drummer Tony Allen, ahead of his performance in LA for the Jazz Is Dead series, but then I got wind of the man himself being a guest on J-Rocc’s show “Adventures In Stereo,” that was right before mine. Needless to say, I was through the moon with that development, but then things got even better. As I was starting my show, Tony was still hanging out in the studio, and told us some stories about the beginnings of Afrobeat, when Fela and his band Koola Loobitos changed to Africa 70, partially because of influences soaked up while in Los Angeles in 1969.
That would have been a major highlight of my entire life, but then during the tribute show, the chance opened up to actually have Tony Allen sit down and answer some questions of my own. Of course, I jumped on it, even though I was wholly unprepared and felt completely unworthy. You can catch our very brief chat at the tail end of the first hour of the show. Everything else covers a broad swath of Allen’s career, featuring some music recorded with Fela, but also showcasing the collaborative side of Allen’s music, all the way up to the present period of time. It was already a honor to pay tribute to the man, but getting to meet him AND talk to him on air is one of the greatest moments since my radio career began almost 25 years ago.
Tony Allen Tribute on KPFK – First Hour
Tony Allen Tribute on KPFK – Second Hour
Playlist:
{opening theme} Fela Kuti & Afrika 70 No Agreement – No Agreement (Decca)
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Fela Kuti & Afrika 70 – Who’re You – Fela’s London Scene (EMI)
Fela Kuti & the Africa 70 with Ginger Baker – Black Man’s Cry – Live (Barclay)
Tony Allen, Baloji & M1 of Dead Prez – Afrodisco Beat 2013 – Red Hot & Fela (Knitting Factory)
Fela Kuti & Afrika 70 – Opposite People – Opposite People (Afrodisia)
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Oumou Sangare – Yere Faga – Mogoya (No Format)
Fela Anikulapo Kuti & the Afrika 70 – Shuffering & Shmiling – Shuffering & Shmiling (Kalakuta)
Interview with Tony Allen
Tony Allen – On Fire – The Source (Blue Note)
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – Marcus Garvey – Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (Honest Jon’s)
Zap Mama feat. Tony Allen & MeShell Nedegeocello – African Diamond – ReCreation (Heads Up International)
Charlotte Gainsbourg – Night-Time Intermission – 5:55 (Because Music)
Tony Allen – Asiko (In A Silent Mix) – Black Voices (Comet)
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Common feat. J Dilla – Heat – Like Water For Chocolate (MCA)
The Roots feat. Dice Raw, PORN & Talib Kweli – I Will Not Apologize – Rising Down (Def Jam)
Yasiin Bey fka Mos Def – Fear Not Of Man – Black On Both Sides (Rawkus)
Fela Kuti & Afrika 70 – Fear Not For Man – Fear Not For Man (Afrodisia)
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Fela Kuti & Afrika 70 – Colonial Mentality – Sorrow, Tears & Blood (Kalakuta)
The Good, The Bad & The Queen – Nature Springs – The Good, The Bad & The Queen (Parlophone)
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{closing theme} Fela Kuti & the Afrika 70 – Equalisation Of Trouser and Pant – Opposite People (Afordisia)